Door operating device



' March 29, 19340 E, A, HANSEN DOOR OPERATING DEVICE Filed Dec.

2 Sheets-Sheet, 1

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DOOR OPERATING DEVICE Filed Dec, 12. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ummn v /////A I 26 v INVENTOR.

fie/V557 ,4. xm/vas/v HIS A TTOR NE Y Patented Mar. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES DOOR OPERATING DEVICE Ernest A. Hansen, Oakland, Calif., assignor to Controlador Corporation, Ltd., Oakland, Calif., a. corporation of California Application December 12, 1930, Serial No. 501,828

4 Claims. .(Cl. 268-64) My invention relates to a door operating device, and particularly to such a device having a pressure fluid control.

It is among the objects of my invention to provide a door operating device which may be controlled from either inside or outside the building closed by the door.

Further objects of my invention include the provision of a door operating device which is actuated by a driving mechanism of light weight, and which may be operated from a source of comparatively low pressure fluid.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth in the following description of my invention. It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to this disclosure of species of my invention, as I may adopt variant embodiments thereof Within the scope of the claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view of the door operating device embodying my invention, taken in a plane indicated by the line 11 of Figure 2; portions of a building and door are shown to indicate the operative relationship; and

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the same, taken in a plane indicated by the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view showing the door closing stops.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view taken through the axis of the operating handle for the outside control valve; and

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view, taken through the axis of the valve.

Figure 6 is a transverse vertical sectional view showing the drive mechanism, taken through the axis of the pressure fluid cylinder; and

Figure 7 is a similar view showing a modification of my invention.

Figure 8 is a horizontal sectional view showing the operating mechanism in conjunction with a single door, and illustrates another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view showing an alternate arrangement of the four-way valves in the fluid control circuit.

In terms of broad inclusion, the door operating device embodying my invention comprises a shaft. Means, preferably including a resilient arm, are provided connecting the shaft with the door; and fluid pressure means, preferably reciprocating, are provided for rotating the shaft to open and close the door. Also, two four-way valves, connected in parallel, are preferably provided for controlling the pressure fluid; one of the valves being positioned inside and the other outside of the building closed by the door, so that the door 1 may be opened or closed from either position.

In greater detail, the door operating device embodying my invention is shown and described in connection with a swinging door; it being understood, hcwever, that the device may be used to equal advantage with doors having other mountings. Referring particularly to Figures 1 and 2, the device comprises a shaft 2 journaled adjacently above the swinging doors 3 in the bearing brackets 4; these brackets being secured to a fixed element, such as the beam 6 of the building or closure '7. A pair. of stops 9 are provided, one on each door, to prevent the doors from swinging inward beyond the closed position.

A pair of resilient crank arms or bars 8, of spring steel or other suitable material, are adjustably secured to the shaft 2, adjacent the brackets i, by suitable clamps 11. The projecting ends of the crank arms 8 are pivotally connected to the outer ends of the arms or rods 12 through the ball and socket joints 13, and the other ends of the arms 12 are pivotally connected to the doors 3 through the ball and socket joints 14. By rotating the shaft 2 clockwise, as viewed in Figure 1, the crank arms 8 will be rotated downwardly and the arms 12 moved forwardly to open the doors; a counter-clockwise rotation of the shaft operating to close the doors.

Since the crank arm or bar 8 is of a resilient character, the size of the equipment and the effort required to open and close the doors is materially reduced. This is due to the fact that the greatest force is required in overcoming the inertia of the doors. If the arms 8 and 12 were both rigid members, considerable force would be required to rotate the shaft 2 in starting the doors to move. With the presence of the resilient arm 8, however, less force is required to start the shaft rotating, because the arm will yield or bend until the inertia of the doors is largely overcome. After the doors start moving the arms 8 will straighten out; the stored energy being utilized to further assist in opening the doors.

Although the arms 8 may be made of any suitable material having suficient strength, but still resilient enough to perform the function described, material which does not have a great deal of resiliency per se may be used. For example, as shown in the drawings, ordinary steel straps may be employed for the purpose, and positioned in such manner with respect to the door that a bending thereof may obtain when the door is moved. In any event, if a yielding or resilient connection is provided between the operating means or shaft and the door, this will perform the desired result.

A reciprocating driving mechanism is provided for rotating the shaft 2. Referring to Figures 1 and 6, the shaft 2 is journaled in a housing 16 suitably secured to the building or closure '7.

A crank lever 17 is clamped to the shaft, and a curved connecting link 18 is pivotally connected at one end to the lever. The other end of the link 18 is pivoted to a piston rod 19 by a pin 21;

8 the pin being provided with the rollers 22 adapted to run in the guide slots 23 of the housing.

A cylinder 24 is mounted on the housing 16, and the piston 26 of the piston rod 19 is arranged to slide in the cylinder. As the piston slides the length of the cylinder the shaft 2 is rotated 180 degrees. This rotation will reverse the position of the crank arm 8, and extend the arm 12 to a position as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 2. It is to be noted that, in the closed posi-.

tion of the doors, the arms 8 and 12 are arranged so that it is exceedingly difficult for one to try and force the doors open, since the stresses developed in the arms are largely those of compression and tension.

Pressure fluid means, preferably hydraulic, are provided for actuating the piston 26. A control is also provided for the pressure fluid, so that the doors may be opened or closed from either inside or outside the building closed by the doors.

a Referringparticularly to Figures 1 and 6, a duct 27 is ported into one end of the cylinder, and another duct 28 is ported into the other end of the cylinder. By directing a pressure fluid into one end of the cylinder a movement of the piston, in one direction, results, and by directing the pressure fluid into the other end a movement of the piston in the opposite direction results; the ducts 27 and 28 thus alternately serving as inlet and exhaust passages.

A needle Valve 29 is provided for regulating the fluid flow between the duct 27 and the cylinder 24. This valve provides means for controlling the rate at which the doors are opened or closed, since the inflow past the valve controls the rate at which the doors are opened and the discharge past the valve controls the rate at which the doorsare closed. The regulating valve isparticularly valuable whenconnection is made directly with city water mains, where the pressure is likely to change.

The. control for the pressure fluid is provided by two four-way valves, connected in parallel across the ducts 2'7 and 28; one valve 31 being positioned inside the building, and the other valve 32 being positioned outside the building. These valves may be arranged in the most convenient location, for instance, the outside valve 32 could be located at the beginning of a driveway leading into a garage. 7

The inlet ducts 33, communicating with a suitable source of pressure fluid such as the water mains of a city, are connected with both of the four-way valves, and the discharge ducts 34, opening into a suitable drain such as the sewer pipe 36, are also connected with both of the fourway valves. The four-way valves are of essentially the same construction, and the detail of valve 32, shown in Figure 5, also serves to show the construction of valve 31.

The four-way valve comprises a housing 3'7 in which is rotatably seated a tapered plug 38. A spring 39 supported by a cup-shaped cap 41 serves to hold the plug 38 in its seated position. Two grooves 42 are cut in opposite sides of the plug and-are arranged in a transverse position and discharge ducts, and the other pair receiving the ducts leading to the cylinder.

When the valve plug is positioned as shown in Figure 5 all the ports are closed. Upon rotating the plug in one direction, however, one of the grooves provides a passage between the inlet duct and one of the cylinder ducts, while the other groove provides a passage between the discharge duct and one of the cylinder ducts. By rotating the plug in the other direction the conditions are reversed, and the cylinder duct which had been connected with the inlet duct is passaged to the discharge duct, while the cylinder duct which had been connected with the discharge duct is passaged to the inlet duct.

By this arrangement it is apparent that the pressure fluidmay be directed into either end of the cylinder at the will of an operator, while simultaneously opening the other end for exhaust. Since the four-way valves are connected in parallel across the cylinder ducts thepressure fluid may be controlled from either inside or outside the building; it being understood-that The outer valve 32 is preferably embeddedin a suitable foundation 44 so that the'top of the valve housing 3'7 is flush with its surface. A tube 46 is threaded in the housing, and a square'rod 47, is positioned in the tube with its lower end coupled to the squared end 48 of the valve plug 38 by a sleeve 49. The top endof the rod 47 is seated in a handle 50 journaled on the upper end of the tube 46, and the rod is secured by a screw 51. The movement ofthe handle 50 is limited by a screw 52 working in a guide slot 53; the slot being arranged so that in the limited positions of the handle the plug grooves 42 are in positions of registration with the duct ports 43 as has previously been described.

A spring pressed latch 54 is provided in the handle 49 adapted to engage an aperture 56 in the tube 46. The latch aperture is positioned so that the valve plug 38 may be secured in its normal position, viz, that position in which all'the duct ports 43 are closed. A suitable lock 57, turned by key 58, is preferably provided for looking the valve plug in its normal'position,

The inside four-way valve 31 may be located at any convenient positionin the building. A handle 59 engaging the squared end 48 of the valve plug is provided for operating the valve, and a recess 51 formed'in the valve housing is arranged to limit the handle movement, so that in the limited positions of the handle the plug grooves 42 are in positions of registration-with the duct ports 43 as was described in'connection with the outside valve 32. When'the handle 59 is extending downwardly as shown in Figure 1 the valve plug is in its normal position, with the duct ports closed.

Since large forces are not requiredto open the doors the driving mechanism need not be heavy, nor is a great fluid pressure required. Furthermore the parts'making up the device need not be heavy, because the resilient arm 8 operates as a shock absorber for relieving the strains coincident with the opening and closing of the doors.

An alternate construction of the driving mechanism is shown in Figure 7. In this'case a gear 62 is mounted for rotation with the shaft 2,-and a rack bar 63 is secured to the piston rod-19 and meshed with the gear 62; A cross bar 64 formed in the housing 16 serves to;hold therack in mesh with the gear;

Figure 8 shows the door operating device embodying my invention mounted for the opening and closing of a single door. The driving mechanism is preferably mounted above the door 3 on the beam 6. The crank lever 17 of the driving mechanism is secured to a short shaft 66 journaled in the housing 16. The resilient crank arm 8 is secured to the downwardly projecting end of the shaft 66 by a clamp arrangement similar to that shown in Figure 2. Instead of moving in a vertical plane, as was the case in connection with the double doors, the resilient crank arm 8 moves in a horizontal plane as indicated by the arrow in Figure 8.

Figure 9 shows diagrammatically an alternate arrangement of the four-way valves in the fluid control circuit. In this embodiment of my invention the four-way valves are connected in series. The cylinder ducts 2'7 and 28 are connected with one pair of the oppositely positioned ports in the inside valve 31; the other pair of ports being connected to a pair of the oppositely positioned ports in the outside valve 32 by the ducts 6'7 and 68. The other pair of ports in the outside valve are connected by the ducts 69 and '71 to the source of fluid supply and discharge, respectively. When the valve plugs are positioned as shown in Figure 9 the fluid passes into the top of the cylinder 24 to move its piston 26 downwardly. By reversing the position of either valve, however, the fluid may be directed into the bottom of the cylinder to move the piston upwardly. In other words, the door may be controlled by either valve regardless in which of the positions the other valve plug happens to be.

Operation: Considering that the doors are closed, that the valve plugs are in their normal positions, and that a pressure fluid is present in the supply ducts 33, an operator unlocks the handle and turns it clockwise to introduce the fluid into the upper end of the cylinder and simultaneously open the lower end for exhaust. The piston 26 moves downward to open the doors, and the operator returns the handle and again looks it in the normal position; the doors being held securely in their opened position by the presence of the pressure fluid in the cylinder.

If the building happens to be a garage, the operator may now drive his car up the driveway and into the garage without further delay. Ga-

rages are often built as a part of residential buildings; an inside door being provided so that one may pass directly into the house from the garage. In this case, the operator flrst closes the garage doors by turning the valve handle 59 clockwise to introduce the pressure fluid into the lower end of the cylinder and simultaneously open the upper end for exhaust. The piston 26 returns to its upper position and the doors are closed. By moving the handle 59 back to its normal position the doors are held secured in their closed position by the presence of the fluid in the cylinder.

The operator may pass into the house thru an inside door, or, if the garage is a separate building, a side door may be provided which is locked by a key. It is to be noted that the doors may be opened or closed by either of the valves, and if a side door is not provided in the garage the operator may close the doors by turning the handle 50 counter-clockwise; after which the handle may be returned to its normal position and locked.

I claim:

1. A door operating device comprising a shaft, a flat resiliently flexible bar mounted radially on the shaft and adapted to swing from a position on one side of the shaft to a diametrically opposed position on the other side of the shaft upon rotation of said shaft, the bar being mounted with a flat face thereof substantially parallel with a plane passing thru the axis of the shaft so that the bar will flex under a force applied at the free end of the bar tending to resist rotation of the shaft, a link pivotally connected between the free end of said bar and the door, and means for rotating the shaft to swing the bar from one to the other of said positions for opening and closing the door.

2. A door operating device comprising a shaft, a flat resiliently flexible bar mounted radially on the shaft and adapted to swing from a position on one side of the shaft to a diametrically opposed position on the oth r side of the shaft upon rotation of said shaft, the bar being mounted with a flat face thereof substantially parallel with a plane passing thru the axis of the shaft so that the bar will flex under a force applied at the free end of the bar tending to resist rotation of the shaft, a link pivotally connected between the free end of said bar and the door, and means for rotating the shaft to swing the arm from one to the other of said positions for opening and closing the door, the bar being substantially parallel with the door and in a condition for greatest flex when the door is moving at the fastest rate.

3. A door operating device comprising a shaft, a flat resiliently flexible bar mounted radially on the shaft and adapted to swing from a position on one side of the shaft to a diametrically opposed position on the other side of the shaft upon rotation of said shaft, the bar being mounted with a flat face thereof substantially parallel with a plane passing thru the axis of the shaft so that the bar will flex under a force applied at the free end of the bar tending to resist rotation of the shaft, a link pivotally connected between the free end of said bar and the door, and means for rotating the shaft to swing the arm from one to the other of said positions for opening and closing the door, the bar being positioned at substantially right angles to the door when closed.

4. A door operating device comprising a shaft mounted adjacently above the door, a flat resiliently flexible bar mounted radially on the shaft and adapted to swing downwardly through the door opening from a substantially horizontal position on one side of the shaft to a diametrically opposed position on the opposite side of the shaft upon rotation of the shaft, the bar being mounted with a flat face thereof substantially parallel with a plane passing through the shaft axis so that the bar will flex under a force applied at the free end of the bar tending to resist rotation of the shaft, a link pivotally connected between the free end of said bar and the door, and means for rotating the shaft to swing the arm from one to the other of said positions for opening and closing the door, the bar extending downwardly in a substantially vertical position and consequently in a condition for greatest flex when the door is half open and moving at the fastest rate.

ERNEST A. HANSEN. 

